Device for electrocuting animals.



H. SMITH.

DEVICE FOR ELBCTROGUTING ANIMALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1912.

1,0586. f Y Patented Oct. 14,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Pfg-1- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..w^sHINGTcN. D. c.

H. SMITH.

DEVICE POR ELBGTROGUTING ANIMALS.

APYLIOATION FILED FEB. 3, 1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH cn..wAsHINGTON, D4 c4 H. SMITH.

DEVICE PQR BLEGTROGUTING ANIMALS. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 3, 1912. 1,075,386@ Patented Oct. 14, 1913.y

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

CoLuMBxA PLANOGRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON. D, c,

'WEEE STATES PATENT FFQE.

HNTINGTON SMITH, or DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS;

DEVICE FOR ELECTBOCUTING ANIMALS.

Application led February 3, 1912.

The essential object of my invention is tol provide an apparatus or device of the above character by which the animals may be killed humanely and quickly and with as little danger to the operator as possible.

My invention can best be understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the apparatus in cross vertical section. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings: 1 represents the electrocuting cage for holding the animal. This cage is a double-walled boxlike structure having formed within it an insu-- lated receptacle 2 in which the animal is placed. The receptacle 2 has a bot-tom 3, sides 4, 4c, and ends 5, 5, the top of the receptacle being open. In one end of the receptacle an opening 6 is formed through whichl the animal is introduced into it. This opening is closed in a manner which will hereinafter be explained.

The receptacle 2 is supported by a base consisting of bars 7 rectangularly arranged to form a frame larger than the bottom of the receptacle 2 and provided with inside crossbars 8 on which the receptacle rests, with insulating blocks 9 preferably interposed between the bottom of the receptacle and said crossbars. The base consisting of the bars combined as aforesaid, is preferably supported by legs 10. The receptacle 2 is closed by an outer receptacle or cover 11 consisting of sides 12, 12, ends 13, 13 and a top 14. These parts are spaced from the receptacle 2 and are built around and supported by uprights 15 which connect with the rectangularlyarranged bars 7 of the base. The uprights 15 are also spaced from the receptacle 2. Provision is made, however, for the lateral support of the interior recep- Spccicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented ct. 14, 1913.

Serial No. 675,380.

tacle in the following manner: At the rear end of the interior receptacle between it and the adjacent uprights 15 there are interposed insulating bloclrs 16 secured in any suitable manner. Along the sides of the interior receptacle there are secured to it uprights 17 which extend in line with the uprights 15 adjacent said sides and between these respective sets of uprights are interposed insulating blocks 18 suitably Secured. At the front end of the interior receptacle above the opening 2 there is interposed between it and the adjacent front end 13 of the outer receptacle or cover an insulating block 19 suitably retained. By this means the interior receptacle is maintained securely in place and insulated from the outer receptacle or cover.

The top 14 of the outer receptacle 11 is preferably made of glass by which one may be enabled to look into t-he chamber of the interior receptacle. To provide for vent-ilation and a proper circulation of air in the interior receptacle openings 20 are cut through the sides of the outer receptacle just adjacent the top thereof. The outer receptacle has in the forward end thereof an opening adjacent the opening 6 into the inner receptacle. This opening and likewise the opening into the inner receptacle is closed by a double-walled, insulated, hinged door 21.

Extending crosswise the to-p of the inner receptacle 2 is a bar 22. This bar is fixed by securing it to the central ones of the uprights 17 secured to the sides of the inner receptacle and which assist in its lateral retention as aforesaid. Attached in any suitable manner to this crossbar is a pulley 23 around which runs a iexible connection or leash 24C of metal or other suitable conducting material. To one end of this leash is secured a collar 25 of leather or other suitable material and which is adapted to be clasped around the neck of the animal. This collar has on the inside a metallic contact 26 directly connecting with the electric-conducting leash. To the other end of the leash is attached a weight 27 adapted to take up slack in the leash after the collar 25 has been secured to the animal.

The bottom of the receptacle 2 including the lower portion of its sides and ends adjacent said bottom is made of some watertight material having a high electrical resistance and preferably of slate. Over this bottom is laid a plate or flooring 28 of metal or other suitable electric-conducting material. rlhis preferably takes the formA of a pan, the edges of the plate being `extended up alongside the sides and ends of the receptacle for some distance.

Electrical connectionis established through the cage in the following manner: Arranged on and bet-ween the walls of the cage and preferably secured to the forward end of the? inner receptacleadjacent the front edge of the door 2l when in a closed position are` spring contact members 29 and 30, respectively. These members are separated some little distance from one another and with them connect low rtension wires 3l and 32. The lelectrical circuit is completed rthrough the wires 31 and 82 by a wire 88 which runs along the jinner face to the outer side of the door 21. This wire 33 is secured to the door at either end by Xtures 34- provided with projecting contact fingers 35 adapted and arranged tohave electrical contact with the spring contact members 29 vand 30 when the 'door is closed, the electric circuit then being established vthrough the low fte-nsion wires 3l, 32 and 33. The low tension wires 31 and 32 lead to a transformer (not shown) of suitable capacity to 'provide a secondary current of the Irequired pressure. This secondary current enters the cage through high tension vwires 36 and '37, respectively, of which the high tension wire-36 lis in electrical connection with the pulley 23 and the high tension wire 37 with the plate or pan 28 at thebottom ofthe receptacle 2.

rllhe operation ofthe'deviceis as follows: The animal is brought 'to the door of vthe cage; the collar 25 placed about its neck 'and 4the animal then introduced into lthe cage, standing upon the bottom conducting plate 28 of the inner receptacle. Any slack in the leash holding the animal ista'len'up by the weight 27. Up tothis time the door of the cageis open and no current is passingthrough the cage. The instant the door is closed the electric'primary circuit is completed as aforesaidby lthe contact of the fingers 35 with the `spring contact members 29 and 30. The electrical connection being thus established through the primary circuit connection will also be established through the secondary circuit vby passing through the body of the animal, for the secondary current connecting with the pulley 23 will pass do-wn through the leash to the contact 26 and thence through the body of the animal to the conducting plate or pan 2S on which the animal is standing and thence through the high' tension wire `32 connecting with the pan, which completes the circuit.

vIt will be observed that the operation is one which can be carried on with practically Vabsolute safety to the operator for no curmals, a cage consisting in part of an insulated vreceptacle having at the bottom thereof a floor of some electric-conducting material forming a terminal of an electric circuit, means forming another terminal of said circuit withinvsaidcage, the same comprising a movable attachment of some conducting material attachable to an animal within the cage to be in 'electrical contact therewith and permit freedom of movement of the animal within the cage, and other connections in circuit with said floor and movable attachment, respectively, whereby an electric current may be applied to an animal standing on said floor and held by said movable attachment.

2. ln an electrocuting apparatus forranimals, a cage `comprising in lpart an insulated receptacle fhaving `an opening Itherein, and inside -said ycage separate terminals forming part of an electric circuit and arranged wherebyan animal inside said cage has contact Vrespectively therewith7 'a vdoor closing the opening into said receptacle, other connections in circuit with said 'rterminals, and means whereby the circuit may be completed Only'after closing said door.

3. '1n an electrocuting apparatus for'animals, a cage comprising in part an insulated receptacle havinganopening therein, and inside said 'cage separate Aterminals arranged whereby an ranimal inside said cage has contact respectively therewith, la

door closing the opening into said receptacle, wires adapted to form a. fpart of a high y tension electric vcircuit connecting, respectively, inside said cage -with said terminals, contact members forming a part of--a low tension circuit in electrical connection with said high tension circuit whereby a current may be 'completed through 'said lvhigh tension circuit upon completing said llow tension circuit, and means whereby said low tension circuit may be completed through said members only after closing saidl door.

4l. 1n an electrocuting apparatus for animals, a cage comprising in 'part an -insulated receptacle having at the bottom thereof a floor of some'electric-conducting material, a flexible vleash of some electricconducting material arranged inside the cage and extending into 'sa'd receptacle to be attachable to an animal to be in electrical contact therewith, the said leash and ioor being adapted to form a part of an electric circuit.

5. In an electrocuting apparatus for animals, a cage comprising in part an insulated receptacle having at the bottom thereof a floor of some electric-conducting material, a leash of some electric-conducting material having on the end thereof a collar attachable to an animal, said collar having on the inside thereof a contact-making member in electrical connection with said leash, a pulley over which said leash is adapted to run, a weight carried by the other end of said leash, and wires adapted to form a part of an electric circuit connecting respectively with said pulley and said floor.

6. In an electrocuting apparatus for animals, a cage comprising in part an insulated receptacle having at the bottom thereof a floor of some electric-conducting material, a leash of some electric-conducting material having on the end thereof a collar attachable to an animl to be in electrical contact therewith, means for taking up slack in said leash, and other connections in circuit with said ioor and leash, respectively, whereby an electric current may be applied to an animal standing on said floor and held by said leash.

7 In an electrocuting apparatus for animals, a cage having an inner receptacle provided with an opening therein, an outer receptacle inclosing said inner receptacle spaced and insulated therefrom with an opening therein in line with the opening into said inner receptacle, a door closing said openings, a floor of some electric-conducting material laid in the bottom of said inner receptacle, a fixture of some electricconducting material arranged within said cage to extend into said interior receptacle and be in electrical contact with an animal contained therein, electric-conducting wires extending within said cage and connecting respectively with said fixture and said floor, contact-making members arranged adjacent the front edge of said door when in a closed position, electric-conduct ing wires connecting respectively therewith, and means whereby an electric circuit may be completed between said contact-forming members when said door is in a closed po- SitlOIl.

HUNTINGTON SMITH.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. R. HAYES, M. E. FLAHERTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

